NEW DELHE: The inability of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) 10 overcome problems with its indigenous small arms programs, the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) $.58 mm calibre family, has pushed the Indian Army into making and hoc purchase of one lakh AK47 assault rifles from Romania.
India received the AK47s through a tender reissued early in 1995 after problems appeared following the contract initially awarded to Bulgaria, The first tender was issued in June 1993 for one lakh AK47s and 30 million rounds of ammunition, which Bulgaria had bagged. But quoting at the rate of $65 per piece, Bulgaria was notable to fulfill the contract when its supplier apparently sold the rifles elsewhere: The tender reissued earlier this year ‘was subsequently awarded to Romania, The ammunition is believed to be supplied by another country. When contacted, the Ministry of Defense would not confirm the pricing for the Romanian AK47s, but they are said to be in the region of $8590 per piece. Including spares, the contract would probably be in the region of about $10 million, without the ammunition.
The latest purchase follows the rejection by the Army of about 7,000 INSAS assault rifles produced by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to replace its old Ishapur, 7.62 mm SLR. ‘The INSAS program was begun in 1982 by the DRDO to stave off foreign purchase’ when India was believed to have been offered complete transfer of technology by a renowned western manufacturer.
DRDO convinced the decision makers in the MoD that it could develop the same in the form of a 5.58 mm family —an assault rifle, a light machine gun and a carbine using some interchangeable pans, and at cheaper rates. The 5.66 mm SS109 NATO standard ammunition was, however, to be manufactured with the purchase of bullet making equipment from the French concern, Manurhin Defense, After more than a decade, these, unfortunately, have yet to see the light of day. The INSAS assault rifles finally developed by DRDO after 10 years and then produced by the OF were essentially a mix of three well known western models the FNFAL; H&K G41 and the Steyr AUG. They could not pass the Army tests for largely two sons. Faulty metallurgy. produced splintering in the mechanism, and the elementary design error of having rear sight atop the body of ensures that its accuracy grossly inconsistent.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 18, 1995
